Process of generating mineral fumes and an apparatus for generating said fumes



Junk: 2? 2 2 V J. F. CLASS T PROCESS 0F GENERATING MINERAL FUMES AND "AN APPARATUS FOR GENERATI Filed NG SAID FUMES H I Dec. 4.= 1919 4 Shets-Shee f l -nwrm NN E i J1me 1'7, 192%, m gm J. F. QLASS PROCESS OF GENERATING MINERAL FUMES AND AN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING SAID FUMES Filed Dec. 4, 1919 June 17, 1924- 4 5 7 V J. F. CLASS PROCESS OF. GENERATING MINERAL FUMES AND AN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING SAID FU E Filed Dec. '4, l9

Patented June l7, 1924.

,a437 FFICE.

JOHN IE. CLASS, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

PROGESS F GENERATING MINERAL FUMES AND AN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING SAID EUMES. i I

Application filed December 4, 1919. Serial No. 342,504.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. CLASS, citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county ofMontgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Processes of Generating Mineral Fumes and an Apparatus for Generatingsaid Fumes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention. such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved process or method of generating fumes from mineral substances, and applying them to the human body in the treatment of diseases.

My invention relates also to the apparatus by means of which the mineralized fumes are conducted to various parts of the body at a known temperature which is essentially below that of the human body to be treated.

: The process consists primarily in the generation of steam or vapor such as arises from water heated to point necessary to generate steam; in causing such S'EGEllIl'OI vapor to pass over shallow bodies of mineral substances consisting of a coal tar product, lime,

sulphur, clay and sand.

During the passage of the vapor over said mineral substances, 'trlQ said vapor becomes impregnated therewitn in proportion to the number of mineral bodies over which the vapor passes. Arriving at the last one of the mineral bodies the fumes or mineral ladened vapor is of a maximum strength, and of a temperature substantially greater than that of the human body. From this condition the temperature is lowered to a point below that of the particular body to be treated and the strength may or may not be reduced from the maximum strength, aocording to the particular malady or disease to be treated. To reduce the temperature, the mineralized fumes or vapor is conducted from the generator to one or more reducing chambers provided with temperature recording instruments, whereby the exact temperature is ascertained before it is applied to the body. It is important that the temperature of the mineralized fumes shall be, in every case, below that of the body because of the fered with during the treatment.

fact that the body has a tendency to absorb the fumes or vapor to'a greater extent, and because of the further fact that the length of application in many cases requires thatthe comfort of the patient shall not be inter- The reduction of the temperature below that of the body is thelast step of the process prior to the application 'of the fumes or vapor to the body.

A further object of the invention is to pro- 1nineral-ladened vide an apparatus which has been especially I the apparatus including the vapor or fume generator, the temperature reducer and the several cabinets or inclosures in which the patient is subjected to the fumes at the proper regulated temperature and strength.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the generator with the distributing pipes or conduits broken off. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the generator showing the mineral trays. Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the head-treating cabinet. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the hoods of the head cabinet, part of'the fume chamber being broken away. Fig. 6 is a front view of one of said hoods. Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of one of said hoods. Fig. 8 is an elevation of one of said hoods with the front removed showing the interior thereof. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of one of said hoods with a side removed to show the interior thereof. Fig. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal top plan view of the lying-clown cabinet with a portion of the cover broken away.

In a more particular description of the process and the apparatus for carryin out said process, reference in detail is ma e to the drawings, where like characterswill denote corresponding parts. 1

The generator 1 is located on the lower floor or in the basement of the building in which the apparatus is installed and the mineral-ladened vapor is conducted therefrom to the rooms where the cabinets are located. The generator is shown in Fig. 3 to consist of a lower section l and an upper or mineral inclosing section 2- which is supported on and sealedfrom the lower section 1 The furnace section or base -23- may be supplied with heat from any source. In the drawings, a gas burner 4 is shown. Above the burner is an evaporating tank 5 supported in the section l'-- upon suitable brackets 6. l/Vater from which the vapor or steam is generated is introduced in said tank 5 by a filler pipe which stands on the outside of the generator. Air and the products of combustion rise in the space 8 around the evaporating tank 5e and together with the steam or vapor from said tank, pass under and above a series of min eral containing trays 9. The fume producing substances which are placed in these trays may be of any suitable character and may be varied from time to time according to the needs of the patients. Usually they consist in part, at least, of mineral substances and these substances are spread in thin layers in the trays so that they will be acted upon by the warm vapors, or steam, and will give oil fumes which will mingle with the vapors as the pass from the generator. The mineral trays 9- are in the upper section -2- of the generator being supported on sutitable brackets and spaced one from the other in order to allow a free and ample passage of the vapor as indicated by the several arrows in Fig. 3. Access is had to the mineral trays through a door ---l0- which forms a portion of the upper section of the gen erator. Above the generator an init'. .l cooler -11" is supported upon pipe 12,- which extends from the top of the generator and is provided with a damper l3- which controls the passage of the niineral-la lened fumes from the gen-- erator. A thermometer l iis located at the initial cooler to indicate the tempera ture of the fumes therein. A. tray --15--- is also located in said initial cooler for the reception of any substance that it may be desirable to place therein. pipe -16 communicates with the initial cooler 11- and with the atmosphere, also with the heat compartment of the generator. The air pipe -l6 is controlled by a damper -l. and 'the passage from the heat com partment to said air pipe is controlled by a damper 18i. If the fumes or vapor in the initial cooler 11 is too strong for a given case, the strength thereof may be reduced by admitting air through the pipe 16- in which case damper l7 is open and damper 18 is closed. Should the temperature of the mineral-ladened fumes insane:

in the initial cooler -11 be below the needs of a given case the damper 18- may be open to discharge heat directly to the initial cooler, in which case the air damper 17 is closed. A series of conduits 19 and 21 provided with dampers. and a cap extend from the initial cooler l1 to the points of application. These conduits convey the mineral-ladened fumes to supplemental coolers where the de sired temperature is ascertained before the fumes are delivered to the patient. As shown in Fig. 1 the various cabinets for the patients are located on the floor above the generator. They are closely t1SS8lIll3lGCl as shown in order to facilitate space, but, it will be understood that each cabinet may be located in an apartment by itself. As shown the mineral-ladened fumes are conveyed from the initial cooler -11- through a conduit to the supplemental cooler -22. From this latter cooler the fumes may be conducted directly to the cabinet and applied to the patient, as in the case of the cabinet 23 where the patient re ceives it in a sitting position, the fumes be ing conducted thereto through a damper controlled conduit -24. The malady from which the patient is suffering and his or her condition determines the selection of the cabinet and the temperature and strength of the fumes, the temperature being ascertained from the thermometer 25- at the cabinet Patients in more advanced stages of dis ease may be treated in lying-down positions, in cabinet 26 from an end of which the head may protrude. through an opening -30- and rest upon a shelf or rest 3l The opening 30 is in the slide 30-. The shelf 3l.- is adjustable by means of a notched arm -31-. The slide -30 is raised in guides 3l on the cover to allow the head to rest on the shelf -31- and then is lowered. The cabinet -26 has a further cooler or chamber -27- beneath it into which the mineral-ladened fumes are conducted from the supplemental cooler -22- through a conduit -2-8 con trolled by a damper. As shown in Fig. 10 the floor of the cabinet -36- has a number of holes .29 in it through which the fumes escape to the interior of the cabinet. The cover 33 of said. lying down cabinet is attached at one end to the floor thereof by a hinge -34. and athermometcr -f%5 is mounted at a suitable point thereon to ascertain the temperature as applied to the patient. Here, it may be reiterated. that the temperature and strength at which the mineral-ladened fumes are administered is important and depend on the character of the disease and the condition of the patient. To the skilled attendant. these requirements are readily discernible;

the temperature being readily known from the temperature indicating devices at variouspoints, and the strength being known ordinarily from the length of time the generator has produced the mineral-ladened fumes.

A special cabinet 36 is provided for. the application of the mineral fumes tothe head and to this cabinet the fumes are conducted directly through the conduit -19- from the initial cooler 11. of the cabinet 36 forms a supplemental cooler which is provided with a temperature indicating instrument 37. From the reducing chamber of cabinet '36 the fumes are conducted to a series of hoods -38 which inclose the heads of the patients with the face exposed to the outside air through openings -39 in the front walls. of the hoods. The fumes are conductedto these hoods through flexible conduits -40 each of which has a damper 41 from which extends a rope or cord 42 in proximity to the hood Where it may be operated by the patient to regulate the supply of fumesto the hoods. The patient sits upon a chair 43- below the hood as shown in Fig. l. The face openings 39 are lined with suitable soft material 4A. such as felt to add to the comfort of the patient, and the opening i5 in the bottom of; each hood which incloses the neck is likewise lined with such material. The hoodconduits 40 are flexible in order to allow for the vertical adjustments of the hoods to suit different persons or according to their height. For this purpose each hood is rovided with slidable guides 46 attac ed to the back thereof which fit and move in similar guides 47 which are attached to the upper portion of the cabinet body -36. Each hood is held in theadjusted position by weights -48- shown in Fig. 5 in broken lines. These weights are connected to one endof suitable cables 49 which over pulleys -50 on shafts 51- mounted on thesides of the cabinet -S6-. The front wall of each hood is hinged at '52 and may be opened to permit the head of the patient to enter. Each hood is provided with a vent 53, and a thermometer -5tby which the tempera: ture at the hood is ascertainable at all times. The interior of each hood is provided with a suitable yielding head rest -55- in the form of spring, and a baffle plate -56, to disperse the fumes entering. Theside of each hood is also provided with a hand hole which is normally closed by a cap Throughthis opening the hand of the attendant may extend to separate the hair of the. patient so that the fumes shall not be obstructed in reaching the scalp.

The operation is as follows: At the begin.- ning of the day,damper l3 isclosed;

The body is also damper 17 of the air conduit, and damper --l8 is opened. ,VVhen the fumes begin to generate sufliciently and are in proper condition for application, damper -13 is opened and damper -18 partly closed, also damper 17 is partly opened. If the temperature in the initial cooler 11 is above that required, damper -18 is closed and cool air is admitted through damper 17. As the strength of the fumes becomes less than is desired for a given case, damper 13 may be opened and damper l8 as well as damper -17 closed. To reduce the strength of the fumes and maintain the temperature, damper -l3 is closed and dampers --18 and -17 are opened.

By the arrangement of conduits and dampers shown a given strength and a given temperature may be maintained throughout the day or they may be varied as cases may require. I

Having described my process of generating and applying mineral-ladened fumes to the human body in the treatment of diseases and the apparatus through the medium of which the process may be carried out, I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a generator comprising receptacles I .to contain fume generating substances and means for generating heated vapor and cans ing the same to circulate over said substances, a conduit to connect said generator with a vapor applying device, and means for taking warm air from said generator in advance of said vapor generating means and delivering the same to said conduit without bringing said air into contact with said fume generating substances.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a generator comprising'receptacles to contain fume generating substances and means for causing heated vapor to circulate over said substances, a conduit to connect said generator with a vapor applying device, and means for delivering air to said conduit fromthe exterior of said generator.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a generator comprising receptacles 1?! to contain fume generating substances and means for causing heated vapor to circulate over said substances, a conduit to connect said generator with a vapor applying device, and means for delivering air to said conduit eitherfrom the exterior of said generator or from said generator at a point below said receptacle.

4. In an apparatus of the character described,,acasing, a receptacle supported'in said casing and adapted to contain fume generating substances, means for generating heated vapors below said receptacles and causing the same to circulate over said sub-,.

stances, a conduit to connect said casing with liiU a vapor applying device, and means for taking warm air from saidcasing at a point below said receptacle and delivering the same to said conduit.

5'. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing, a receptacle supported in said casing and adapted to contain fume generating substa11ces,ineans for generating heated vapors below said receptacles and causing the same to circulate over said, sub stances, a conduit to connect said casing with a va or a l in device a second conduit leading from said casing at a point below said receptacles to the first mentioned conduit, and separate means to control said conduits.

6. In an apparatus of the character de-' scribed, casing, a receptacle supported in said casing and adapted to contain fume generating substances, means for generating heated vapors below said receptacles and causing the same to circulate over said sub-' substances arranged between saidwater receptacle and said outlet, a conduit to convey fume laden vapors from said outlet to a vapor applying device, and means for supplying warm air from said heater to said conduit without bringing the same into contact with said fume generating substances,

8. In an apparatus of the characterdescribed, a casing'having an air inlet at the lower portion thereof and an outlet near the top thereof, a water receptacle in the lower portion of said casing, a passageway to conduct air from said inlet to said cas'ing'above said water receptacle, aheater for said water receptacle, trays interposed between said water receptacle and said outlet and adapted to contain fume generating substances, a conduit connected with said outlet, a valve to control said connection, a second conduit connected at one end'with the first mentioned said water receptacle,a heater for 'said water' teac er receptacle, trays interposed between said water receptacle and s'aidoutlet and adapted to contain 1 fume generating substances, a conduit connected withsaidoutlet, a valve to COIIfiIOl SELld connection, a second conduit connected at one end with the first mentioned conduit and connected at its other end with saidcasing below said trays, and a valve to control said scond'conduit, said second conduitjhaving a valve controlled inlet arranged exteri'orly of said casing;

10 Inan apparatusof the character scribed, a casing, receptacles arranged with in said'casing adapted to contain fume gene-rating substances, means for causing heated vapor to circulate over said sub-- stances, a cabinet for ap'plyingsaid vapors to the body, and means "for connecting said casing with said cabinet, and means for de-- livering warm air to said cabinet without passingtlie same over said receptacles.

11; In an apparatus of the character described, a generator comprising a casing having an'in'let at the lower portion thereof and an outlet near the top thereof, a water receptacle in the lower portion of'said casing spaced from the wall thereof to form an air passage,a" heater for said water receptacle, trays interposed'between' said water receptacle and said outlet, and adapted to contain fume generating substances, a conduit connected with said-1 outlet, and a'valve to con trol said connection, a second conduit con nected; at one end'with the first mentioned conduit and connected near its other end with the air passageway leading about said water receptacle, anda valve to control said lastmentioned connection.

12, In an apparatus for generating medicinal fumes, a generator consisting of two separable sections, one a vapor generator, and the other a fume generator, a cooling reservoir receiving said fumes from the last named generatorjand a conduit forming a communication between said cooling reser voir and the atmosphere and the vapor generator respectively, substantially as described.

13. In an apparatus for generating medicinal fumes, a. generator comprising two separable sections, one a steam or vapor generator, a series ofshallow mineral containers mounted in the other section and in which the steam or vapor volatilizes with said mineral and forms medicinal fumes, a reservoir in which said fumes are discharged for distribution, and a conduit forming a communication between said reservoir and the atmosphere and the steam or vapor generator' respectively.

15 In an apparatus for generating medicinal fumes, a mineral fume generator, a reservoir into which the mineral fumes are directly discharged from said generator, distributing'con'duits extending from said reservoir, a conduit forming a communication between said reservoir and the atmosphere and generator respectively and whereby the strength or the temperature of the fumes in said reservoir may be regulated, and a series of cabinets connected with the distributing conduits of said reservoir. 7

15. In an apparatus for generating medicinal fumes, a vapor or steam generator, a mineral fume generator, a reservoir receiv ing the fumes from the last named generator, a conduit forming a communication between said reservoir and the steam generator and the atmosphere respectively and whereby the strength or temperature of the fumes in said reservoir may be regulated, a supplemental. reservoir receiving the fumes from the first named reservoir, a series of hoods supported on the last named reservoir, and conduits connecting said hoods with the last named reservoir.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN F. CLASS, 

